Arch-supporter.



mhsvmssl. PATENTED NOV. 12; 1907. c. L. AUSTIN, JR.

ARCH SUPPORTER. nrmoumn rmm saw. in. 190s.

, WITNESSES 6 INvENToR CHARLES L. AUSTIN, JR, OF MAHOPAO FALLS, NEW YORK.

PATENT @FFIQIEE.

ARCH-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed September 1 1 1903- fl 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHARLES L. AUSTIN,J1., ZL citizen of the United States, residing at Mahopac Falls, in the county of Putnam and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch- Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Supporters for the arch of the foot, and the object of my invention is to provide a device which may be placed in the shoe, which shall be flexible and easy for the wearer, but which will maintain the arch at the desired position. I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan View of the metal frame supporting my device. Fig. 2 is a plan of my arch supporter. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section along the line aa on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a reverse plan of a modified form of my invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

For the purpose of holding the arch comfortably in the desired position, I place a metal frame, A, which is formed to allow the sides, 13, U, E, thereof to rest upon the sole of the shoe, while th side, D, flares outwardly and upwardly, resting against the side of the upper of the shoe. Attached in any suitable manner to the frame, A, is a leather, or other suitable pliable material, F, see Fig. 3, which extends across the opening formed by the sides of the frame, A, and thus acts as a flexible support for the arch of the foot. Over that portion of the support, F, with which the foot comes in contact, 1 preferably place a covering of thin leather, or other suitable material, G, for the purpose of giving finish to the device. The shape of the frame, A, is such that it raises the support from the sole of the shoe and thus allows an air space that provides ventilation for the foot.

I have shown in Fig. 3 a series of eyelets, H, which are metal clasping devices, having openings through the center thereof, which perform the double function of uniting the covering, G, with the supporting mat e rial, F, and providing further ventilation for the foot. I do not limit myself, however, to this arrangement of securing the covering with the supporting material, as any convenient and well-known means for uniting two fabrics together will suffice.

It will be noted that the supporting material, F, sustains the arch. This material is suspended and with the weight of the foot upon the same acts against its resiliency. This is a material feature of my invention, to wit: the suspension of the support for the arch. When the arch is rigidly supported from the bottom of the shoe the effect is to tire the wearer and impede the recovery of the patient.

I have shown in Fig. 4 a modified form of my inven tion in which the supporting material, F, is stretched over the frame, A, and laced on the underside by means of ordinary shoe lacing, or leather thongs, K. By tightening or loosening the lacing any adjustment that the wearer may desire is secured. The supporting material, F, is covered as before with thin leather or other suitable material, attached in any convenient way, as with eyelets, M, which provide ventilating openings. I

I do not wish to limit myself to the material or arrangement of the supporting material, which is suspended beneath the arch of the wearer.

By adjusting the length and width of the supporting material, F, and covering, G, above and at the ends of the frame, A, I may arrange my device for different sized shoes, within certain limits. extended edges the device may be readily altered to lit a smaller shoe than the one for which it was constructed in the first instance. In order that the re quirements of various sizes of shoes may better be met it will be necessary to make the frame, A, in three sizes.

My invention is simple, cleanly and inexpensive in construction and operation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an arch supporter; a frame adapted to be supported along one edge by the sole, the opposite edge being in contact with the upper withip a shoe; a flexible rest for the arch of a foot suspended between the supporting sides of the said frame, with a ventilated covering over said rest for a bearing surface for the arch of the foot.

2. An arch supporter comprising a frame which is sup ported at its edges, one side thereof upon the sole within a shoe, and the other by being in contact with the upper thereof; with a flexible and adjustable rest for the arch suspended from said frame.

In testimony whereof he has afiixed his signature in presence of two'witnesses.

CHARLES L. AUSTIN, JR.

Witnesses -FREDERICK W. CAMERON,

LOTTIE PRIOR.

By cutting off the 

